Department of Health and Social Care

Health Professions: Regulation

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards the new regulatory system for health and care professionals; and which protected professional titles they are considering in scope of these regulations.

Lord Markham: The Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024 was made on 13 March 2024 which will bring anaesthesia associates and physician associates into regulation by the General Medical Council under a reformed regulatory framework. We are currently working on the next phase of reform, which will introduce a new regulatory framework for medical practitioners and the professions regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Health and Care Professions Council.As part of the Government’s regulatory reform programme, protected titles will be considered more broadly, as we take forward legislation for each regulator.

Dental Services: Attendance

Lord Swire: To ask His Majesty's Government how manymissed dental appointments there have been in each of the past five years.

Lord Markham: Whilst the Department does not hold this information in the format requested, data is recorded on dental activity that has occurred. For example, the Department holds data on the number of Units of Dental Activity commissioned and delivered each month on the NHS Business Services Authority Open Data Portal in an online-only format. The portal currently holds data from April 2016 to November 2023.

Pharmacy: Rural Areas

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty's Government how manycommunity pharmacies in rural areas closed in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021, (4) 2022, and (5) 2023.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the long-term financial viability of community pharmacies in rural areas.

Lord Markham: The below table shows the total number of community pharmacies that have closed and opened in rural areas in England, as defined by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Guide to applying the Rural Urban Classification to data, each year from 2019 to 2023:YearNumber of rural pharmacies closedNumber of rural pharmacies opened20191332020612021882022832023138Community pharmacies are private businesses, contracted to provide National Health Service pharmaceutical services. My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is responsible for ensuring that patients can access medicines, and the Department is monitoring changes to the market closely. In areas where there are fewer pharmacies, the Pharmacy Access Scheme provides financial support to the pharmacies that are present.Every three years, local authorities in England undertake pharmaceutical needs assessments for their areas, to ensure provision continues to meet their population’s needs. Integrated care boards have regard to those assessments when commissioning services, and where a pharmacy closure impacts access to services, a new contractor can apply to open a pharmacy in the area.When a local pharmacy closes, patients can choose to access pharmaceutical services through any alternative pharmacy, including any of the over 400 distance selling pharmacies that are required to deliver medicines to patients free of charge. In some rural areas, doctors are permitted to dispense medicines.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the impact of infant respiratory syncytial virus on (1) paediatric intensive care bed capacity, (2) NHS elective care capacity, (3) GP visits, and (4) economic productivity.

Lord Markham: NHS England has not made specific assessments of the impact of infant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) on paediatric intensive care bed capacity, National Health Service elective care capacity, and general practice visits, as RSV is often accompanied by other respiratory viruses and bacterial infections, and it is therefore difficult to measure the exact contribution of RSV. Neither has the Department assessed the wider productivity and economic benefits of RSV specifically. The NHS plans for a wide range of scenarios ahead of each winter, and will continue to adapt plans based on respiratory infections surveillance, including RSV, and NHS activity data. This includes specialised commissioning led winter surge planning for paediatric critical care, as well as wider winter planning. For RSV specifically, this includes the annual immunisation programme, which continues to be managed and reviewed in accordance with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). For 2024 to 2025, preparedness may include rolling out a new RSV vaccination programme following the JCVI’s recommendations issued in September 2023, subject to approval from the Department. The health impact of infant RSV was assessed in a scientific paper published in Lancet Regional Health Europe in January 2024, and has been assessed previously in scientific papers published by Public Health England and others. This work contributed to the JCVI’s assessment of RSV’s impact, and advice to implement an immunisation programme to prevent infant RSV.

Prescription Drugs: Shortages

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of shortages in the supply of prescription drugs.

Lord Markham: There are approximately 14,000 medicines licensed for supply in the United Kingdom, and the overwhelming majority are in good supply. The medicine supply chain is complex, global, and highly regulated, and supply issues can be caused by a range of factors. For example, suppliers can encounter manufacturing problems, difficulty accessing raw materials, and surges in demand. These are commonly cited as the drivers of the recent supply issues, which have affected many countries, not just the UK.Whilst we can’t always prevent supply issues, we have a range of well-established tools and processes to mitigate risks to patients. These include close and regular engagement with suppliers, use of alternative strengths or forms of a medicine to allow patients to remain on the same product, expediting regulatory procedures, sourcing unlicensed imports from abroad, adding products to the restricted exports and hoarding list, use of Serious Shortage Protocols, and issuing National Health Service communications to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals, so they can advise and support their patients.

First Aid: Adrenaline

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued on the administering of adrenaline auto-injectors by minors in medical emergencies.

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued regarding the use of an adrenaline auto-injector on someone to whom it was not prescribed in a medical emergency.

Lord Markham: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published guidance on the use of adrenaline auto-injectors in schools, and there is provision in this guidance for the use of an adrenaline auto-injector on someone to whom it was not prescribed, in a medical emergency. However, regulation 238 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 provides an exemption from certain requirements related to the administration of medicines. Specifically, it allows for parenteral, rather than injected or absorbed, administration of specified medicines in emergency situations, where the purpose is to save a life. For instance, adrenaline prescribed for a specific person, or even to an unknown person, can be administered under this regulation, if it is necessary to save a life during an emergency. The use in emergencies is covered by schedule 19 and regulation 238, where age is not specified.An Expert Advisory Group for Allergy was established in 2023, across the Government and clinical organisations, and chaired by the National Allergy Strategy Group and the Department, to recommend further action by the MHRA, Department of Health and Social Care, Department for Education, and the National Health Service. The Department of Health and Social Care and the MHRA are currently considering updates to the 2017 guidance, to ensure that any updated clarifications are supported by evidence, and that any open questions are answered.

Aviation: Medical Equipment

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of operation of law in relation to the provision of adrenaline auto-injectors on commercial aircraft.

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of operation of law in relation to the provision of adrenaline auto-injectors on trains.

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government what requirements there are for airlines to ensure adrenaline auto-injectors are available on commercial flights.

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government what requirements there are for airports to ensure adrenaline auto-injectors are available on their premises.

Lord Markham: Following their review, the Adrenaline Auto-injector Expert Working Group (AAI EWG) recommended in principle that adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) should be made available in public locations, for use in treating anaphylaxis in unforeseen and critical circumstances, provided suitable safeguards can be implemented to ensure their effective and safe use. Challenges lie in ensuring correct and secure storage of AAIs, to ensure that the adrenaline does not deteriorate, and the device remains functional. Cinemas offering food for sale and other food outlets were identified as examples of locations where emergency AAIs might have particular potential to save lives.The legislative change will therefore concern AAI supply, to specify or define individuals or organisations with the necessary competence to obtain and store AAIs for use in the event of an anaphylactic emergency. The AAI EWG advised the need for access to AAIs in a broad range of settings such as restaurants, gyms, cinemas, childcare facilities, youth groups, and music festivals. To support such wide-ranging access, the scope of legal supply will need to be linked to a requirement for training, to support safe use.An Expert Advisory Group for Allergy was established in 2023, across the Government and clinical organisations, and chaired by the National Allergy Strategy Group and the Department, to recommend further action by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Department of Health and Social Care, Department for Education, and the National Health Service. The Department of Health and Social Care and the MHRA are currently considering updates to the 2017 guidance, to ensure that any updated clarifications are supported by evidence, and that any open questions are answered.

Cabinet Office

Ministers: Legal Costs

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 12 March (HL Deb col 1904), what were the specific grounds for approval of the legal expenses of the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending any proceedings, as well as costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer, as happened in this case.This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to members of the House of Commons, provided by that House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect those members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission recently agreed in principle to provide professional indemnity insurance to members of this House.

Blood: Contamination

Lord Allen of Kensington: To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect full compensation payments to have been made to the victims of the infected blood scandal and to family members of those victims who have already died.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Government has committed to update Parliament through an oral statement on next steps within 25 sitting days following 20 May. It is our intention to make this statement as soon as possible. Additionally, we have tabled a Government amendment ahead of Report Stage of the Victims and Prisoners Bill to fix technical deficiencies, whilst working in the spirit of Dame Diana Johnson’s amendment. The amendment has been tabled with the intention of speeding up the implementation of the Government’s response to the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

The Gambia: Female Genital Mutilation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are working with the United Nations and World Health Organisation in their efforts to strengthen laws and policies to protect women and girls from female genital mutilation in The Gambia, as committed to in the International Women and Girls Strategy 2023 to 2030.

Lord Benyon: The UK's position is clear that female genital mutilation (FGM) is a human rights violation. The Deputy Foreign Secretary spoke to The Gambia's Foreign Minister on 9 April and met with the Minister for Public Services on 29 April, to relay the UK's deep concern about the progress in The Gambia's National Assembly of the bill that would legalise FGM. He highlighted the serious implications if the bill were to become law, including for The Gambia's international reputation. The UK continues to engage broadly through regular contact with senior Gambian Government officials and other stakeholders. We are working with international partners to coordinate and complement messaging and activity.

Gulf States: Motor Sports

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 3 April (HL3297), which ambassadors have accepted offers of gifts or hospitality to attended F1 races in the last three years in Gulf States as recorded through management assurance processes; which races they attended; and who offered the gift and hospitality.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: As the answer to Question HL3297 made clear, all FCDO Staff are expected to maintain the highest standards of propriety and regularity at all times in line with the Civil Service Code and Diplomatic Service Code. It is recognised across HMG that, for example, the exchange of gifts and hospitality have long been an important part of building relations, particularly overseas. The motorsport industry provides significant economic opportunities for the UK, generating over £10 billion in revenue each year, and UK Ambassadors to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have regularly attended F1 events as part of their official duties. Offers of gifts or hospitality to FCDO officials are recorded and regularly audited under our management assurance processes.

Development Aid

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards achieving the commitments outlined in the White Paper on international development published on 20 November 2023.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The White Paper on International Development sets out 216 commitments as part of the UK's strategic goal to end extreme poverty and tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, with a timeframe through to 2030. The Government has moved at pace to deliver across the commitments. Recent delivery includes additional support for Education Cannot Wait, the launch of a new programme to support maternal and neonatal health for 3.5 million people in Ethiopia and supporting the Green Climate Fund to announce a $100 million investment partnership with Somalia.

Russia: Ukraine

Lord Balfe: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are taking any steps, in collaboration with international partners, to encourage peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We support a just and sustainable peace which restores Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, underpinned by the UN Charter. President Zelenskyy has clearly indicated Ukraine's desire for peace in his Peace Formula, which reflects principles supported by 141 countries in the UN General Assembly. The UK has supported Ukraine to convene senior officials from G7 and several G20 countries, to discuss principles for a just peace. We welcome the planned conference in Switzerland to discuss these principles further. By contrast, Russia's continued actions on the battlefield demonstrate that President Putin has no meaningful interest in a just peace. It will be for Ukraine to determine its position in any negotiations, just as it is for Ukraine to decide its democratic future and long-term security arrangements. The quickest path to peace would be for President Putin to withdraw all Russian troops illegally present in Ukraine and end its aggression against its neighbour.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Housing Market

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors survey indicating a third consecutive monthly increase in demand in the housing market.

Baroness Swinburne: The Government closely monitors the state of the market and was pleased to see an increase in buyer demand in the latest RICS UK Residential Survey. We have taken a number of steps to support the market in recent months including extending the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, introducing the Mortgage Charter, reducing stamp duty and continuing our home ownership schemes such as First Homes, Shared Ownership and Lifetime ISA and our support for housebuilding.

Home Office

Madeleine McCann

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask His Majesty's Government what funding is being made available to Operation Grange into the disappearance of Madeline McCann in the financial year 2024–25; how many police officers are currently involved in the investigation; when the next review of funding will occur; and what are the total costs of the police operation to date.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: For the year 2024-25 the Home Office has agreed to provide up to £192,000 to the Metropolitan Police Service through Special Grant funding for Operation Grange, the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. At 31 March 2024, the total cost of the investigation was £13.2m.Operation Grange’s Special Grant budget currently funds a team of three police officers and one member of police staff, all of whom operate on a part-time basis.Special Grant funding is reviewed annually by the Home Office. The Department also liaises regularly with the Operation Grange investigation team to assess progress and challenge the use of funds as necessary.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: To ask His Majesty's Government how many Afghans currently in the UK and awaiting implementation of the family reunion scheme for those who supported British personnel in Afghanistan have wives and children in Pakistan who are in danger of being returned to Afghanistan.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: The Government remains committed to providing protection for vulnerable and at-risk people fleeing Afghanistan. This includes eligible immediate family members of those being resettled under both the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS).Data on the number of Afghans in the UK who are awaiting a route for separated families to be reunited is unavailable at this time.Public data on the number of Afghans in Pakistan who are eligible to join family members already resettled under both the ARAP and ACRS is unavailable. However; the latest published statistics, summarised at Afghan Resettlement Programme: operational data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), show that, at the end of December 2023, 14,423 people have been relocated to the UK under the ARAP so far, and a further 10,520 have been relocated under ACRS.The Government is aiming to bring eligible persons (EPs) to the UK from Pakistan and other third countries as soon as reasonably practicable and has so far relocated over 3000 people since October.

UK Border Force: Heathrow Airport

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential economic impact of the upcoming strikes by Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport on (1) businesses, and (2) tourism.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: Border Force has made no such assessment as to the strikes’ impact on tourism and business, as this is not within Border Force’s remit. Border Force will continue to work closely with Heathrow Airport to ensure we have robust plans in place to minimise any delays if strike action goes ahead. We will deploy suitable resources to meet critical demand and support the flow of passengers and goods through our border. Border Force’s priority during industrial action, as with at any other time, is to maintain the security of the UK border and nothing will compromise this.

Visas: Graduates

Baroness Garden of Frognal: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the letter from Professor Brian Bell, Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, to the Home Secretary on 12 March, why the timescales of the rapid review of the Graduate Route, which they have asked the Migration Advisory Committee to undertake, are much shorter than a normal commission.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: It is important we provide certainty on this issue in a timely manner, which is why we asked the MAC to carry out a rapid review. We will consider the evidence put forward by the MAC very closely.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

National Security Online Information Team: Social Media

Lord Strathcarron: To ask His Majesty's Government whether the National Security Online Information Team flags social media posts that are deemed to be lawful to online platforms for potential breaches of terms of service.

Viscount Camrose: As is the case with a range of national and international public and academic bodies, DSIT has trusted flagger status with the major social media platforms. The NSOIT is focused on the greatest risks to public safety and national security, which are agreed by ministers and regularly communicated to parliament. In specific circumstances, the NSOIT may flag online material where it is in line with ministerial steers, is on an issue within the team’s remit, and where the post appears to be in breach of the platform’s terms of service. Social media platforms decide whether or not content is a breach of their terms of service and, if so, what action to take.

Electronic Commerce: Intellectual Property

Lord McNicol of West Kilbride: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks to intellectual property posed by sales on overseas e-commerce platforms.

Viscount Camrose: The Government takes the issue of IP crime and infringement seriously and the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) plays a crucial role in the fight against online piracy and counterfeiting. It works closely with international partners, including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, to assess the risks posed by sales on overseas e-commerce platforms and estimating the cost of counterfeiting to the UK economy. Their most recent report estimated that counterfeit goods imported to the UK were worth approximately £13.6 billion per year.

Ministry of Justice

Judiciary: Public Appointments

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the report by the University of ManchesterRacial Bias and the Bench:A response to the Judicial Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (2020-2025), published in November 2022, what support they will give to recommendations tooverhaul judicial appointment processes to deliver a more diverse judiciary and embed equalities within the judiciary.

Lord Bellamy: The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) is independent of government and has a statutory duty to select candidates for judicial appointment solely on merit; select only people of good character and have regard to the need to encourage diversity in the range of persons available for judicial selection. The JAC keeps its selection processes under continual review to ensure they are transparent, fair, and attract talented candidates from a wide range of backgrounds. In 2022-2023, across all legal JAC exercises, 51% of those recommended for appointment were women and 16% were ethnic minorities, contributing to a more diverse judiciary.The Ministry of Justice, as a member of the Judicial Diversity Forum (JDF), works closely with the judiciary, the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), the Legal Services Board (LSB) and the three largest legal professions on actions to improve judicial diversity. The Forum’s 2024 action plan (https://judicialappointments.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Judicial-Diversity-Forum-Priorities-and-Actions-for-2024.pdf) which was published in January, sets out our shared priorities.

Department for Work and Pensions

Jobcentres: Knighton

Lord Rooker: To ask His Majesty's Government whether all residents of Knighton, regardless of whether they reside in the English or Welsh parts of the town, have access to the town’s job centre.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: Universal Credit operates on postcodes therefore when a claim is made, the individual will be automatically assigned to the Jobcentre which serves that postcode. Customers in Knighton are allocated to Llandrindod Wells Jobcentre Plus.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

Parliamentary Estate: Telephone Systems

Lord Marlesford: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker on which dates and at what times the failure of the Polycom telephone system on the parliamentary estate started and ended, and why it took so long for the system to be restored.

Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall: The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. The Parliamentary Digital Service (PDS) were made aware of a potential issue affecting Polycom telephone handsets, used with the Microsoft telephone service (MS Teams) on Friday 12th April 2024. Following a thorough investigation, a root cause was identified and resolved on Tuesday 16th April 2024. Restoration of service following a major telephony incident depends on third parties. The Voice Programme is upgrading and replacing the existing telephony infrastructure with a streamlined and less complex support arrangement. PDS are expecting to rollout the service over the summer 2024.

Parliamentary Estate: Telephone Systems

Lord Marlesford: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker on what date at what cost to public funds the Polycom telephone system was installed on the parliamentary estate, and whether Siemens was invited to tender for this contract.

Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall: The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. In 2016, a procurement process was completed adhering to EU procurement regulations (OJEU) for a unified communications solution to replace the previous telephone system which was end of life and could no longer be supported or maintained. This restricted OJEU process was open to all vendors. Siemens (Unify) made an initial application but were not taken through to stage two of the process to tender.The cost of the Skype for Business Programme, which included key steps in Parliament’s transition from a copper wire telephone system to Voice over Internet Protocol, was £8.3 million and included the cost of the Polycom handsets currently in use. Implementation of the Polycom handsets began in November 2017.

Parliamentary Estate: Telephone Systems

Lord Marlesford: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether the Parliamentary Digital Service plans to replace the Polycom telephone system on the parliamentary estate and, if so, what is the budget for this project.

Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall: The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. The Voice Programme has been set up to address service quality and user experience priorities regarding telephony in Parliament. The programme’s high-level benefits include increasing business resilience and value for money and improving customer experience across telephony services. The programme is upgrading and replacing the existing telephony infrastructure (a combination of on premise MS Teams and Skype for Business) and has completed procurement of a unified communications service, to be implemented later this year, that will deliver resilient telephony. Initially, the new service is expected- to re-utilise the existing Polycom telephone handsets, however, replacement telephone handsets will be introduced as part of product lifecycle replacement.The House of Lords Services Committee, the House of Commons Administration Committee and the Business Resilience Board are being consulted on implementation plans for the new service.The Investment Committee and Accounting Officers have approved a business case for the Voice Programme which has an approved whole life cost of £6.37m. These costs cover implementation, programme resources, licences, and support costs until FY28/29.

Ministry of Defence

Army

Earl Attlee: To ask His Majesty's Government what is the (1) establishment, and (2) personnel strength, of each of the battalions of the Foot Guards, broken down by (a) commissioned officers, (b) senior non-commissioned officers, and (c) other ranks.

The Earl of Minto: The table below shows the Trade Trained Regular Army Personnel within Foot Guard Battalions serving at Regimental Duty by Paid Rank, as at 1 January 2024. I am withholding part (1) regarding the workforce requirement (establishment) as disclosure would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the British Army. Paid Rank1st Battalion Grenadier Guards1st Battalion Coldstream Guards1st Battalion Scots Guards1st Battalion Irish Guards1st Battalion Welsh GuardsTotal 530  490  540  390  410 Commissioned Officers4040404040Warrant Officers1010101010Senior Non-Commissioned Officers5040504040Junior Non-Commissioned Officers140110170100100Privates290280260210230 Source: Analysis Army Table notes/caveats: The figures are for the Trade Trained Regular Army only and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve and all other Reserves, but includes those personnel that have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP. The figures only include personnel with a parent Arm / Service of Infantry serving at Regimental Duty within the specified Battalions. All other Infantry personnel who are not serving within a Foot Guard Battalion have been excluded from these figures. Figures also exclude any attached Arms serving with the Battalion. Figures exclude service personnel on the resilience margin. Senior Non-Commissioned Officers include all personnel with a Paid Rank of Staff Sergeant and Sergeant. Junior Non-Commissioned Officers include all personnel with a Paid Rank of Corporal and Lance Corporal. Figures have been rounded to 10 for presentational purposes; numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of their parts. Public Duties Companies have been included (1st Battalion Grenadier Guards includes Nijm Coy (PDIC), 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards includes 7 Coy (PDIC), 1st Battalion Scots Guards includes F Coy (PDIC) and 1st Battalion Irish Guards includes 9 and 12 Coys (PDIC).

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Wind Power: Port Talbot

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask His Majesty's Government whether planning consent has beengranted between Celtic Freeport and Neath Port Talbot County Council for the construction of the offshore wind farms.

Lord Callanan: The Celtic Freeport consortium, which includes Neath Port Talbot County Council, is currently preparing a business case and establishing robust governance arrangements, alongside the necessary corporate and legal structures, to allow for the formal designation of the Freeport by the Welsh and UK Governments in 2024. We are not aware of any planning applications for offshore wind from Celtic Freeport.

Treasury

New Businesses: Capital Investment

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of a decline in venture capital investment in UK start-ups in the first quarter of 2024; and what steps they are taking to support the growth of the UK's innovation ecosystem.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The government notes that while there have been reports of a decline in venture capital (VC) investment in UK start-ups, this has been broad based and global in nature. We also note that because of the nature of private markets, there is a lag in data reporting for VC deals, meaning that final data on investments made in Q1 2024 will not be available until later in the year. The BBB’s Small Business Finance Monitor 2024, which covers data up to the end of Q3 2023, found that there has been a “slowdown in activity that has occurred in the market since Q2 2022” and that the market decline over the past 18 months is not unique to the UK and can be seen across other global regions. However, we also note that VC funding in the UK has reduced from record levels in 2021/2022, and that despite this slowdown, early stage/seed funding has remained robust, indicating that there is a pipeline of future investment opportunities still being created. The government recognises that VC funding is an important source of finance for innovative companies and is proud of the fact that the UK has the third largest VC market in the world, behind only the US and China. The government is backing British business by tackling barriers to investment, cutting taxes and rewarding work, and by supporting the priority growth sectors, including digital technology, which are helping to turn the UK into the world’s next Silicon Valley. This includes making over £3.5 billion of public investment in the AI ecosystem since 2014, extending the sunset clause for the Enterprise Investment Scheme and the Venture Capital Trust scheme to 6 April 2035, making changes to simplify and improve R&D tax reliefs, extending the British Business Bank’s Future Fund: Breakthrough investment programme, and implementing the measures the Chancellor announced at last year’s Mansion House speech to reform the pensions market to unlock investment into high growth sectors and generate increased returns for savers.